Lexus discontinued the entry-level CT model in Japan earlier this year ending a 10-year production cycle. The hatchback was sold in the United States until the 2017 model year, but the automaker decided to remove it from the US lineup after only 4,690 shipments in the country in 2017. However, it looks like Lexus is ready to give the CT another chance as a model. a new report suggests a second-generation model is currently being developed with three different powertrain types.
Hardly anyone is surprised, Lexus plans to turn the CT into a small crossover replacing the traditional hatchback form. That’s according to Best Car Website, which has new articles dedicated to upcoming products from premium manufacturers. The information is really scarce at the moment and you should also take it with a grain of salt but it seems the new CT could be positioned slightly above UX in the company’s global portfolio if it gets the green light for production.
The most interesting part of the report coming from Japan claims that the CT successor will be offered with combustion, electric and electric engines. Again, things are pretty blurry at this point, but Best Car Website mentions a 2.0-liter hybrid system, a 2.5-liter gasoline engine, and a battery-powered variant.
Production of the first generation CT was discontinued in March this year when the final edition model was released. It had visual upgrades but only one powertrain was available – a 1.8-liter factory four-cylinder with 98 horsepower (73 kilowatts) and 105 pound-feet (142 Newton-meters) of torque. Powered by an electric motor with 80.5 hp (60 kW) and 153 lb-ft (207 Nm), the hybrid system is capable of producing a peak output of 134 hp (100 kW).
In the United States, the previous CT went on sale for the 2011 model year with prices starting at $29,120. It was updated with a new front fascia for the 2014 model year, but just three years later, the electrified hatchback lost its position as the brand’s entry-level model in the United States.